Base for stove



Sept. 18, 1956 J. E. CHAMBERS ETAL BASE FOR STOVE] 2 sheets-sheet 1Filed March 14, 1950 Sept. 18, 1956 J. E. CHAMBERS EI'AL.

BASE FOR STOVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -jmjaLimxk 17/ (8%77/66721; ncw/ 6AM j wcmwd 772% made/ it 79 Filed March 14, 1950 4 .4 Ago/M United StatesPatent C BASE FOR STOVE John E. Chambers, Thomas Esta Phares, and SamuelMaurice Young, Shelbyville, Ind., assignors to Chambers Corporation, acorporation of Indiana Application March 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,534

7 Claims. (Cl. 126-39) This invention relates to a base for a stove andrefers particularly to a base that may be readily positioned on thestove or removed therefrom.

The base of the present invention is in the form of an apron whichcloses the gap between the bottom of a stove mounted on legs and thefloor, in the front and on the opposite sides. The base has a two foldpurpose, to provide a neat appearance for the lower edge of a stove andto promote cleanliness in the kitchen in and around the stove. Basemembers that are permanently secured to the lower edge of a stove havethe disadvantage that they make it extremely difficult to clean thekitchen floor under the stove. The same condition exists if the base ishard to remove or to replace, or if tools are required for either theremoval or replacement of the base.

The base constructed in accordance with the present invention isindependent of the stove and may be removed or replaced readily by anaverage housewife without tools of any kind. Because of this thehousewife can undertake as part of the regular cleaning of the kitchenfloor the cleaning of the floor portion beneath the stove, a choreseldom if ever done where the stove is provided with a base which issecured to the frame of the stove and hence is not readily removed.Another advantage of applicants base is that it automatically adjustsitself to the floor level so that even if the kitchen floor is notlevel, the base will not leave an unsightly gap under a portion of itslower edge where it would be noticeable.

The structure by means of which the above noted advantages and otheradvantages of the invention are attainedwill be described in detail inthe following specification, in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stove to which the base has beenapplied, with a lower corner portion broken away to show a portion ofthe structure by which the base is secured to the stove;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base shown in conjunction with afragmentary portion of the stove to which the base. is to be applied indotted lines, one of the two brackets on the opposite sides of the stoveto which the rear extremities of the base is to be secured being shownin full lines;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1,showing the means for securing the rear portions of the side panels ofthe base to the stove.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially along the line 44of Fig. l, with the rear portions of the side panels of the base shownbroken away;

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, showing the base just before it hasbeen secured to the stove;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the lower portion of thecorner structure of the stove showing, in dotted lines, the base withits clip engaging the leg bolt of the stove; and

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Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the front panel ofthe base secured to the leg bolt of the stove.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a stove having aplurality of leg bolts 3 supporting it in spaced relationship to thefloor. The leg bolts are each provided'with a rounded head 4 which restson the floor, and a nut 5 threaded tightly against the bottom of thestove. The distance between the top of nut 5 and the rounded head of theleg bolt determines the distance between the floor and the bottom of thestove. This is the space which the base is designed to cover.

The base comprises a front panel 6 and side panels 7. Front panel 6 isprovided at its upper edge with a flange 8 and at its lower edge with aflange 9 to give it sutficient rigidity. A pair of resilient clips 10 issecured to the rear surface of the front panel with each clip.positioned so as tobe in lateral alignment with one of the leg bolts ofthe stove when the base is applied to the stove. The clips may be weldedto the front panel, but it. is preferred to secure them by bolts 11.

Each clip 10 is made of a single strip of resilient spring steel havingits central portion 12 secured to the rear surface of front panel 6.Both ends of the strip are bent at right angles at the lateral edges ofcentral portion. 12 to form arms 13 extending rearwardly from the frontpanel. The arms extend parallel a short distance and their merge intoconverging portions 14 which form a bottleneck at point 15. Rearwardlyof bottleneck 15 the arms are bent outwardly and then inwardly, asindicated at 16 and 17, to define a space adapted to receive the shankof a leg bolt. Converging portions 17 are spaced apart at their rearmostend a distance slightly less than the diameter of the shank of leg bolt3 and merge into outwardly flared wings 18. When front panel 6 is Ypositioned in front of the stove and. pushed rearwardly towards theposition it occupies when applied to the stove, the outwardly flaredwings enable one to readily locate the base properly relative to thelegs. The wings engage the shank of leg bolt 3 and are forced outwardlyuntil the shank of the bolt passes the restricted opening 19.

The resilience of the metal strip causes the arms of the clip to snapinto their normal position with the shank of the leg bolt 3 embraced byportions 16 and 17. Opening 19 is narrow enough to prevent accidentaldisplacement of the front panel, but wide enough to permit easy entranceof the shankof the bolt when the panel is pushed rearwardly, and easyremoval. of the clip from the bolt when the front panel is pulledforwardly. The distance between portions 12 and 15 is such that when theshank of bolt 3 is embraced by portions 16 and 17 of the clip the frontpanel is positioned under the front of the stove a short distance fromthe front line of the stove. This gives thezlower front edge of thestove an offset appearance, as indicated at 20,. Fig. 1. In connectionwith stoveshaving legs that are not suitable. as an anchorage for theclips, it is possible to provide such stoves with suitable projections,and to arrange the clips to engage such projections.

When the front panel is being positioned against the front of the stoveit is held with its lower edge against the floor, and the clips, whenengaged with the shanks of leg bolts 3, hold the front panel with itslower edge against the floor even if the floor is olf level. Since thebase is entirely independent of the stove, the base will adjust itselfto the surface of the floor, rather than to the front of the stove. Thisarrangement prevents the formation of a gap between the bottom of thefront panel and the floor. If the floor slopes somewhat, so that the topand bottom edges of the panel cannot be parallel to both the floor andthe bottom front edge of the stove,

the gap will be formed between the top edge of the front panel and theadjacent bottom front edge of the stove. The gap will not be noticeablein this position because it will be substantially concealed by theoverhang 20.

Side panels 7 are secured to opposite ends of front panel 6 in anysuitable manner, as indicated at 21, Fig. 7. The side panels areprovided with top and bottom flanges 22 and 23, respectively, to providea desired amount of rig- 7 idity for the structure. Each side panel hasa clip 24 welded or otherwise secured thereto on its inner side andadjacent its rear end. The clip is offset inwardly, as indicated at 25,to form a lip 26 spaced parallel to the panel and having its free endextending towards the rear of the end panel.

A bracket 27 is secured to the back 31 of the stove adjacent each lowercorner by a screw 32 or similar fastening element. The bracket has aportion 28 extending beyond the lateral edge of the stove. of extension28 is bent forwardly to form a flange 29 vertically aligned with lip 26.The inner edge of bracket 27 is provided with a rearwardly extendingflange 30 which serves to stiffen the bracket.

As previously mentioned, the side panels may be secured to opposite endsof the front panel in any suitable manner. A pair of fastening elements21, one or more on each side, is suflicient to hold the side panelssecured to the front panel to form a single U-shaped unit that may bereadily secured to the leg bolts, or to any other suit able projections,or removed therefrom without the use of any tools. The base is securedto the stove by aligning it with the stove at floor level and pushing itrearwardly until wings 18 of each of the clips 10 engage the shank of aleg bolt 3. Then, as the base is pushed rearwardly so that wings 18 arespread apart to permit entrance of the bolts into the restrictedportions of the clips, the side panels 7 are pressed inwardly (in thedirection of the arrows, Fig. to cause the lips 26 to fit inside flanges29. The interengaged elements 26 and 29 cooperate with clips to hold thebase in position against the stove and prevent the ends of panels 7 fromswinging outwardly. Elements 26 and 29 each are of suflicient height toinsure vertical alignment even if the floor is off level so that thelips 26 on opposite side panels are positioned at slightly differentlevels.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a base that isentirely independent of the stove and may be secured to the stove, orremoved therefrom,

The outer end i easily and quickly by an ordinary housewife without theuse of any tools. While we have described a preferred embodiment of theinvention in considerable detail it will be understood that thedescription is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, asmany details may be modified without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, we do notdesire to be restricted to the exact structure of the illustrativeembodiment disclosed.

We claim:

1. In combination with a stove having a front, a back, a pair of legsadjacent its front and a bracket adjacent each lower corner of its back,a base comprising a front panel having a clip engageable with each ofsaid legs and a pair of side panels, each of said side panels having aclip engageable with one of said brackets.

2. In combination with a stove having a back and a bracket securedadjacent each of the lower back corners of the stove, a unitary basecomprising a front panel and a pair of side panels, each of said sidepanels having a clip engageable with one of said brackets to hold saidside panels against accidental displacement.

3. In combination with a stove having a back and a bracket securedadjacent each of the lower back corners of the stove, each of saidbrackets having a flange extending beyond the lateral edge of saidstove, a base comprising a front panel and a pair of side panels, eachof said side panels having a rearwardly extending clip spaced inwardlyfrom said panel, said clip being engageable with said flange to preventaccidental displacement of said side panels.

4. In combination with a stove having a pair of vertically adjustableleg bolts adjacent its front and a bracket secured to each lower cornerof its back, a base comprising a front panel having a pair of resilientclips extending rearwardly from its rear surface, each of said clipsbeing removably engageable with one of said legs to hold said base inengagement with said stove, and a pair of side panels each secured atits front end to said front panel and having a clip secured adjacent itsrear end, each of said clips being removably engageable with one of saidbrackets, whereby each of said side panels is removably secured adjacentits rear end to said stove.

5. In combination with a stove having a front, a back, a pair of legsadjacent its front and a bracket adjacent each lower back corner, aunitary base comprising a front panel and a pair of rearwardly extendingside panels, said front panel being removably engageable with said legs,and each of said side panels being adapted to be removably securedadjacent its rear end to one of said brackets.

6. In combination with a stove having a front, a back, a pair of legsadjacent its front and a bracket projecting laterally from each lowerback corner, a unitary base comprising a front panel and a pair ofrearwardly extending side panels, a pair of resilient clips extendingrearwardly from said front panel, said clips being laterally alignedwith said legs, and each of said side panels being engageable adjacentits rear end with one of said brackets.

7. In combination with a stove having brackets secured thereto, a basecomprising a front panel and a pair of side panels, said front panelhaving a plurality of clips engageable with part of the stove, and saidside panels each having a clip extending inwardly from its inner surfaceand engageable with one of said brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,980,769 Teller et al Nov. 13, 1934 2,225,722 Spieth Dec. 24, 19402,270,710 Ring Jan. 20, 1942 2,295,915 Ring Sept. 15, 1942 2,359,491Ring Oct. 3, 1944

